Bill Clinton hits the campaign trail

4/17/12 11:29 AM EDT

One of the ways Bill Clinton is dramatically different than the other living ex-presidents is in his continued hands-on involvement in political races.

It stretches well-beyond the role he played in the 2008 presidential race. In 2010, no race seemed too local: across the nation, he backed dozens of candidates up and down the ballot -- from City Hall to state legislature to state attorney general. He recorded robocalls, participated in fundraisers and also campaigned for Democrats running for governor, House and Senate.

It’s beginning to look like he’ll play a similar role this year. He chose sides in a recent Democratic congressional primary in Maryland and has also endorsed in a contentious incumbent vs. incumbent House primary in Pennsylvania – he endorsed Rep. Mark Critz over Rep. Jason Altmire.

The common thread in his activity is loyalty – the most valued of all political traits. He tends to reward those who were connected to his administration and those who backed his wife Hillary’s presidential bid.

It’s a testament to his durability and popularity that he’s still so widely sought after. And It’s testament to his political acumen that he could wade into so many intra-party fights yet still retain so much goodwill within the Democratic Party.

Referring to Clinton’s endorsement of Kathleen Kane in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary for attorney general, Philadelphia Weekly asks, “Is there a better endorsement in the U.S. than Bill Clinton?”